Method of and an apparatus for using a graphical handheld computer for model railroad programming and control

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for use in controlling model train layouts. The apparatus includes a handheld computer having at least one communications port disposed thereon. A custom software program is disposed within such handheld computer for generating and communicating control signals to a model train layout. An electronic interface communicates the control signals generated between such handheld computer and such model train layout.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from my earlier filedprovisional application Serial No. 60/309,071 filed Jul. 31, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates, in general, to model railroading and,more particularly, this invention relates to a method of and anapparatus which enables controlling a predetermined number of modeltrains operating on a track system using a graphical handheld computerfor the selection and control of such model trains.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The model train industry, as is generally well recognized in theart, has always sought additional ways to make model trains run morerealistically like real trains. Before digitally controlled trains,there were a number of limitations on the way the train engines could berun. For example, two trains on the same electrically connected trackhad to run in the same direction, as well as, at the same speed.

[0004] On the other hand, with Digitally Controlled Trains (DCT) eachtrain engine is equipped with a decoder, which decodes electricalmessages sent over the train track. This allows the train engines to beindividually controlled. Individual control provides the train operatorwith more realistic train operation. With digital control, a model trainuser could select the address of an engine, and control the speed,direction, or accessories on one engine. Also, the user could use theircontrol to release one engine and acquire control of another.

[0005] The widely accepted standard for controlling model trains wasgenerated by the NMRA (National Model Railroad Association). Thestandard the NMRA generated is called DCC (Digital Command Control).This standard spells out the electrical signal specification andsoftware protocols, which vendors of DCC equipment should comply to inorder that many vendors can build model train equipment, which iscompatible with other DCC systems. To date, several vendors manufacturedecoders for engines, power units that drive the DCC signal onto thetrain track, and throttles, which are used to control the engines.

[0006] Prior to the present invention, the throttles available havecontrol knobs and may have a line or two of text display, which is usedto program or control the engines, or accessories. A typical scenario ofcontrolling an engine with one of these controllers is as follows.First, the operator must know the address of the locomotive (Model TrainEngine). The operator must then enter the address into the throttle,sometimes by using rotary knobs or other type of controls. Then the usermust acquire the Loco. The typical controller has a knob to control thelocomotive speed, and a toggle switch, which is used to choose thelocomotive's direction. At this point the operator must rotate thethrottle knob to the position which corresponds to the presentlocomotive's velocity, to finish acquiring the Loco. Furthermore, theoperator must have had the direction switch (forward/reverse) in theproper position, which represents the direction the Loco is presentlytraveling. Now the operator can adjust the speed of the engine. Thetypical throttle has function keys or buttons, which can be used toactivate locomotive accessories like the engine lights or sounds.

[0007] Becoming more popular, at the present time, and lower in cost arePocket Computers or PDA s. Some examples of available Pocket Computersare the Palm, Visor, HP Jornada, Casio Cassiopeia, etc. These PocketComputers all have in common powerful CPU s, the ability to have newsoftware programs readily installed on them (to increase theircapabilities), touch screens, pixel capable graphic screens, have one ormore communication ports, are portable, and have large amounts of memoryfor programs and data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides an apparatus for use incontrolling model train layouts. This apparatus includes a handheldcomputer having at least one communications port disposed thereon. Acustom software program is disposed within such handheld computer forgenerating and communicating control signals to a model train layout andan electronic interface is provided for communicating the controlsignals generated between such handheld computer and such model trainlayout.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus and method for use with a graphicalhandheld computer to enable an operator to simultaneously control aplurality of trains of a model railroad.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and method for use with a graphical handheld computer whichwill give the operator of a model railroad the capability of operatingsuch railroad in a manner substantially similar to the operation of areal railroad.

[0011] Still another object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and method for use with a graphical handheld computer tocontrol model train layouts through a communications port with anelectronic interface and custom software.

[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and method for use with a graphical handheld computer whichwill make controlling locomotives and accessories easier and quicker byequipping such graphical handheld computer with a touch sensitivegraphic capable screen.

[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and method for use with a graphical handheld computer whichwill enable the operator to control a model train layout using hardwired, RF, inferred, or other types of communications to control suchmodel train layout.

[0014] In addition to the various objects and advantages of the presentinvention which have been described in some detail above, it should benoted that various other objects and advantages of the instant inventionwill become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled inthe relevant art from the following more detailed description of suchinvention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunctionwith the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a mobile crane accessorycontrol example according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a graphical locomotiveconsist example according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a graphical locomotivecontrol example with a locomotive selection window according to anembodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a throttle with aforward/reverse direction switch according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the hand held computerhardware used in the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of one example of a presentlypreferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an alternate embodiment ofthe present invention.

[0022]FIG. 8 is an illustration of a hand held computer which can usedin the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 9 is an illustration of a throttle with a push button/knobcombination control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 10 is an illustration of a computer having an added controlfeature which can be used in the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 11 is a pictorial view of the hand held computer hardwareaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 12 is a pictorial view of an alternative hand held computerwhich can be used in the present invention.

[0027]FIG. 13 is a pictorial view of a model train layout which can becontrolled according to the instant invention.

[0028]FIG. 14 is a pictorial view of another alternative embodiment of ahand held computer which can be used according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0029]FIG. 15 is a pictorial view of another model train layout whichcan be controlled according to the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 16 is a pictorial view of another locomotive which can becontrolled with the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram according to a presently preferredembodiment of the invention showing a complete system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVEEMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Prior to proceeding to more detailed description of the presentinvention is should be noted that identical components which haveidentical functions have been identified with identical referencenumerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings forthe sake of clarity and understanding of the invention.

[0033] Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-17 of thedrawings. Illustrated therein, for example, is a graphical handheldcomputer, generally designated 10, for model railroad programming andcontrol. Such graphical handheld computer 10 includes softwareprogrammed therein and an electrical interface 12 (FIGS. 10) for one ofthe several Pocket PC s (PDA s) presently available on the market.

[0034] The software developed for the Pocket PC would preferably beprogrammed in C or C++ language. This would allow the programmer to havethe best ability to create portable code. Portable code would be codewhich could be compiled on one compiler, like Code Warrior, to be usedon the Palm device, or with only slight modification could be compiledwith Microsoft Windows CE embedded visual tools if it were to execute onthe HP Jornada, Casio Cassiopeia, etc. The software for these devicescould, for example, be supplied on diskette. The user would typicallyconnect his Pocket Pc to a desktop PC with a communications cable (notshown). The user would run an application, which could automaticallyload the contents of the software diskette first to the desktop PC andthen to the Pocket PC. An alternate method of installing software on thePocket PC would be to load a desktop PC with the software via theinternet and then load the software through the Pocket PC'scommunication cable. Yet, another alternative would be to supply thesoftware program on a permanent memory device such as a flash disk,Compact FLASH etc, which would be compatible with the particular PocketPC. The method of supplying the software on a permanent memory devicelike Compact FLASH would eliminate the requirement for a desktop PC andwould be the simplest method of software installation.

[0035] One possible use for the Pocket PC with the proper electricalinterface is shown in figure x. This figure shows how the Pocket PCcould be used to program DCC decoders. In this example the Pocket PCwould use a RS323 serial interface to communicate with themicrocontroller. Since the RS232 serial port most Pocket PCs areequipped with, do not have acceptable timing or voltage levels toprogram DCC, the interface electronics would be required to translatethe timing and voltages to the proper levels. One method ofaccomplishing such a task would be to convert the +/−12 Volt RS232levels to zero to five-volt levels, which a microcontroller couldreceive and transmit. The code in the microcontroller could generatetiming required by the DCC specification. Furthermore, the output of themicrocontroller would have to go to more electronics so its zero to fivevolt signals coming from the microcontroller could be converted to theproper DCC levels.

[0036] One such system which has throttles networked together isproduced by Digitrax Digitrax builds a system in which multiplethrottles talk on a pier-to-pier network that has a communicationprotocol similar to Ethernet. Digitrax calls this network LocoNet. ThePocket PC could have an interface to such a network and be used as athrottle with other Digitrax throttles. A block diagram of such aninterface is shown in FIG. 10. In this example the Pocket PC would use aRS232 serial interface to communicate on the LocoNet network. Since theRS232 serial port most Pocket PCs are equipped with, do not haveacceptable timing or voltage levels for LocoNet interface electronicswould be required to translate the timing and voltages to the properlevels. One method of accomplishing such a task would be to convert the+/−12 Volt Rs232 levels to zero to five-volt levels, which amicrocontroller could receive and transmit. The code in themicrocontroller could generate any timing required by LocoNet.Furthermore, the output of the microcontroller would have to go to moreelectronics so its zero to five volt signals could be converted to theproper LocoNet levels. The final electronics would probably be opencollector transistors because this is a requirement of the LocoNetspecification.

[0037] Another possible application for the Pocket PC is a controlleralso shown in FIG. 10. In this example the RS232 serial port wouldconnect to a DCC controller box. The controller box would receive theserial commands to control DCC equipment. A microcontroller in thecontroller box would keep track of the Locos running and generate therequired refresh signals, which would be sent to the section of traintrack. The microcontroller would also monitor the serial port the PocketPC is connected to for new throttle or accessory commands. Because ModelRailroad track is exposed metal, short circuits are likely. Therefore,there would be a necessity for the controller to have short circuitprotection built in.

[0038] The features Handheld PCs come with can be very beneficial to theModel Railroader like Touch Screen, possible Color Graphics,communications port, etc. and can be used to control engines oraccessories. Accessories could include but not be limited to turn outs(switch tracks), Crane (mobile or stationary), Coal (bulk commodity)handling facilities, block signals, lighted accessories, sound devices,crossing gates etc.

[0039] One feature, which could make the Pocket PCs even more desirablefor a Digital Model Train Throttle is the addition of a speed controlknob 14. An example of such a knob 14 added onto the Pocket PC is shownin FIG. 10. Preferably the knob 14 would be of the continually rotatingtype, which produces electrical pulses proportional to the amount ofrotation. A microcontroller in the base unit would count the pulses fromthe knob 14 and convert them into change in position numbers and transitthe numbers back to the Pocket PC via a communication port. Acontinuously rotary knob 14 would be preferred because if the user wascontrolling one engine which the user intends to leave running andacquires another engine which is running at full speed, it would not benecessary to turn the knob to some predetermined position for speedmatching before control of the locomotive was allowed.

[0040] Because existing controllers have only Knobs, Pushbuttons, Lightsand simple text displays it is difficult to use such equipment tocontrol the Digitally controlled engines. As the Graphical UserInterface (GUI) has made Personal Computers (PC s) easier to use, thePocket Computer's GUI will make using digitally controlled model trainequipment easy also. The Pocket Computer can be programmed with customsoftware, written for the model train user, and custom electricalinterfaces can be built, so that communication ports can be used tocontrol the Digital Trains.

[0041] A Pocket Computer with interfacing electronics, and customsoftware developed specifically for Model Train Control offers a muchimproved throttle and accessory control device as compared to existingcontrollers. The touch screen and graphics capabilities of the PocketComputers make presently difficult tasks such as selecting a locomotiveto control, simple and quick. One such example of using the Pocket PCfor a throttle is as follows. Locomotives to be controlled are displayedgraphically on the screen. The graphics can be iconic or picture like.The touch screen makes acquiring a locomotive as simple as touching theicon or picture of the engine the user would like to control. The PocketPC can be programmed to automatically send the appropriate signals torelease the presently acquired locomotive if desired, and in its memoryit can remember the locomotive's speed and direction, which the user istrying to select. Therefore, the Pocket PC can automatically set anindicator to the new locomotive speed and also, set the directionindicator appropriately too. This type of throttle can be much simplerand quicker to use than existing throttles. The entire process toacquire a locomotive can be reduced to touching the appropriate positionon the Pocket PCs touch screen once. Furthermore, the screen can beprogrammed with useful text to indicate functionality to the user. Forinstance, two buttons on the touch screen could be labeled Lights On andLights Off. By simply touching either button the lights could be turnedon or off.

[0042] In addition to controlling the locomotives, the Pocket PC can beequally useful to control accessories. One such accessory could be adigitally controlled motorized crane FIG. 1. A model railroad crane mayhave three or more axis that can be controlled. If pictures of thecrane's controllable axesare shown on the Pocket PC's display, graphicalbuttons on the touch screen can be used to easily control the cranesmovement.

[0043] Because the Pocket PCs are programmable computers they can beused to add realism to a model train layout by keeping track of thingslike fuel consumption. Since the Pocket PC is commanding the locomotivesspeed, the Pocket PC can make a fuel consumption calculation and displayremaining fuel. If the Loco being controlled was a Steam Engine thePocket PC can display coal and water levels.

[0044] A complete system could be built with the handheld computer as athrottle that is shown in FIG. 17. In this configuration a PC orEmbedded PC could be used as a DCC Master. In this configuration thehandheld computers would communicate with the DCC Master via a wirelessnetwork (such as wireless Ethernet IEEE specification 802.11 b) and theDCC Master would receive signals from one or more handheld computers andcreate the DCC signal required to run DCC locomotives and accessories.

[0045] To follow is a comparison of operation between known devices andthe apparatus of the present invention.

[0046] Existing Devices

[0047] Select a locomotive to control with a DigiTrax UT2 throttle.

[0048] 1. Release control of one locomotive (Dispatch a locomotive) toselect a different locomotive by pressing shift button simultaneouslywith the dispatch button.

[0049] 2. Rotate two dials to an address of a locomotive. Note: you mustremember the address programmed into each engine you would like tocontrol.

[0050] 3. Press the Acquire button.

[0051] 4. If the Speed and/or the direction controls are not in theproper position (the position such that the locomotive being acquiredhas the same speed and direction), then they must first be set in theproper positions.

[0052] 5. Now the user can change the speed and direction or operate thecontrols

[0053] 6. Try to remember which function keys F1, F2 etc. control whichlocomotive,” functions such as Bell, Horn, Headlight Dimmer, DynamicBreak Sound Etc,

[0054] 7. To activate functions greater than F2 (i.e. F3) two keys mustbe pressed simultaneously.

[0055] Other Presently Known More Advanced Devices

[0056] 1. Release control of selected locomotive???

[0057] 2. Key in address of the locomotive to control By using a 10digit keypad and pressing an enter key. Note: you must remember theaddress programmed into each engine you would like to control Note:usually the address is four digits so this requires five keystrokes.

[0058] 3. Adjust the direction???

[0059] 4. Now the user can change the speed and direction or operate thecontrols.

[0060] 5. Try to remember which function keys F1, F2 etc. control whichlocomotive functions such as Bell, Horn, Headlight Dimmer, Dynamic BreakSound Etc.

[0061] With The Present Invention

[0062] 1. Press the location on the screen to select a locomotive.

[0063] 2. Press the picture of the locomotive to be controlled. Note: Ifa locomotive was already being controlled the invention software willautomatically dispatch the locomotive and acquire the newly selectedlocomotive. Note: no matter how many address digits are used thisprocedure usually only requires two press on the touch screen.

[0064] 3. The screen will only display the proper number of buttons,labeled in English (or any other language), to control the installedfeatures of the newly selected locomotive. Note: for each new locomotiveadded to apparatus of the invention ,a single, one time onlyconfiguration would need to be completed.

[0065] 1. Select a picture from a list of available locomotives.

[0066] 2. Enter any locomotive name (usually Road Name and cab numberi.e. NS1234)

[0067] 3. Enter locomotive address. Note: you only need to know thelocomotive address once. The Pocket PC will remember the address andrelate it to the locomotive picture.

[0068] 4. Define the function buttons by entering a name for thefunction and the proper DCC signal to activate for that function. Note:the operator only needs to know the functions and related DCC signals atthis time.

[0069] It is possible to automate the task of configuring a locomotiveas described above. If the locomotive came with a picture and functionbutton information in a computer type format, then the configurationcould be automated. Example: by simply making a connection from thelocomotive or accessory to the handheld PC, the configuration could takeplace programmatically.

[0070] While a presently preferred embodiment as well as a number ofalternative embodiments of the present invention have been described inconsiderable detail above it should be obvious that various othermodifications and adaptations of the instant invention can be made bythose persons skilled in the relevant model railroading art withoutdeparting from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for use in controlling model train layouts,said apparatus comprising: (a) a handheld computer, said computer havingat least one communications port disposed thereon; (b) a custom softwareprogram disposed within said handheld computer for communicating controlsignals to a model train layout; and (c) an electronic interface forcommunicating said control signals between said handheld computer andsuch model train layout.
 2. An apparatus, according to claim 1, whereinsaid handheld computer includes a touch sensitive screen.
 3. Anapparatus, according to claim 2 wherein said handheld computer includesa screen capable of displaying graphics.
 4. An apparatus, according toclaim 1, wherein said apparatus further includes a speed control knob.5. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus furtherincludes a throttle speed control mechanism.
 6. An apparatus, accordingto claim 1, wherein said handheld computer further includes a helpbutton.
 7. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said model trainlayout is controlled by at least one of hardwired, RF, infrared andother known types of communications.
 8. An apparatus, according to claim7, wherein said model train layout is controlled by hardwiredcommunications.
 9. An apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein saidgraphics are displayed in color.
 10. An apparatus, according to claim 1,wherein up to 30 units can be controlled simultaneously with saidapparatus.